The same. The DUKE's palace.
Enter DUKE and THURIO
DUKE
Sir Thurio, fear not but that she will love you,
Now Valentine is banish'd from her sight.
THURIO
Since his exile she hath despised me most,
Forsworn my company and rail'd at me,
That I am desperate of obtaining her.
DUKE
This weak impress of love is as a figure
Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat
Dissolves to water and doth lose his form.
A little time will melt her frozen thoughts
And worthless Valentine shall be forgot.
Enter PROTEUS
How now, Sir Proteus! Is your countryman
According to our proclamation gone?
PROTEUS
Gone, my good lord.
DUKE
My daughter takes his going grievously.
PROTEUS
A little time, my lord, will kill that grief.
DUKE
So I believe; but Thurio thinks not so.
Proteus, the good conceit I hold of thee–
For thou hast shown some sign of good desert–
Makes me the better to confer with thee.
PROTEUS
Longer than I prove loyal to your grace
Let me not live to look upon your grace.
DUKE
Thou know'st how willingly I would effect
The match between Sir Thurio and my daughter.
PROTEUS
I do, my lord.
DUKE
And also, I think, thou art not ignorant
How she opposes her against my will
PROTEUS
She did, my lord, when Valentine was here.